Push pencils



G. MEIER PUSH PENCILS Dec. 24, 1957 Filed Nov. s. 1953 GEORG MEIER ATTORNEY United States Patent PUSH PENCILS Georg Meier, Furth, Germany Application November 3, 1953, Serial No. 389,928 Claims priority, application Germany October 19, 1953 6 Claims. (Cl. 12020) The invention relates to a push pencil with a longitudinally shiftable rear knob operating in two stages. It is directed particularly to push pencils in which the actuating knob brings the lead carrier into the writing position in the first movement stage and returns it into its inoperative position in the second stage. This type of push pencil includes those which have a lead carrier which is spring loaded and which is fixed in position by means of spreading tongs controlled by a clamping ring which is longitudinally shiftable between two stops. In such pencils the mechanism is constructed in such a manner that when the actuating knob is pushed forward a certain distance, the spread arms of the tongs bear against a stop, the lead carrier being then fixed in the position for writing; and when the push knob is pushed further forward during the second stage of its movement, the arms are released by the clamping ring so that the lead carrier can return into its initial position under the action of the returning spring.

Such push pencils with double acting or two stage rear push knob are very popular because it is possible by the same operating procedure, namely by applying axial pressure on the rear actuating knob, both to bring the lead carrier into position for writing and to cause it to return into its inoperative position. Because the same manipulation is required to make the pencil ready for use and render it inoperative, the operation .of the pencil is greatly facilitated and can be carried out quickly. On the other hand, an objection to the known pencils or" this type is, that the operation of the rear push knob must be carried out with a certain amount of care and discretion. If, for example, the push knob is pushed beyond the first stage of movement when it is operated the first time, the lead carrier, which is first brought into the writing position, will soon be released for returning into its inoperative position. Consequently it sometimes happens that the knob has to be pushed several times before the pencil is ready for writing.

The invention is based on the knowledge that push pencils of the type in question will only reach the point of perfection when they possess the advantages while avoiding the disadvantages above described, that is when the danger of wrongly actuating the push button is eliminated. This aim can be attained according to the in vention in a manner which is both simple and purposeful, in that, at the end of the first stage of movement of the actuating knob the rear end of the pencil casing serves as stop for the finger of the user pushing the knob and in the next stage of movement the actuating knob can be slid into the pencil casing owing to the provision of at least one clearance therein.

This suggestion, which forms the subject matter of the invention, can be put into practice in a number of ways. For example, it is possible to provide a bevelled or chamfered portion extending from the rear end of the casing to form the clearance. Such clearance allowing the knob to be slid into the pencil casing when it ice is actuated a second time, can also be formed like cut-away portion at the rear end of the ing. A

by a step pencil casslot, preferably extending in the longitudinal direction of the casing might be sufficient. In this last instance it has been found advisable to provide a radial projection on the actuating knob, which projection extends into the slot in the casing in such a manner that it is accessible to the user for carrying out the second stage of movement of the actuating knob.

The invention offers the advantage that the user of a push pencil constructed according to one of the forms described, when he wishes to use the pencil needs only to push the rear actuating knob, without exercising any particular care, until the finger exerting the pressure comes into contact with the rear end of the pencil casing. The lead carrier has then been brought into the position for writing and locked in that position. second movement stage of the push knob can then be efiected by sliding the actuating knob still further forward inside the pencil casing with the same finger which in this case acts on the knob through the clearance.

Other features and advantages of the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example and diagrammatically, several possible forms of construction, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a prior art device;

Figure 2 is a side view of a pencil in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a left-hand in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is another embodiment in accordance with the present invention showing the pencil provided. with a step-like cut-away portion in side View;

Figure 5 is a still different embodiment in accordance with the present invention showing the pencil provided with a longitudinal slot in side view;

Figure 6 is a left-hand view of the embodiment shown in Figure 5 in which the actuating knob is provided with a radial projection; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 in which the actuating knob is provided with two radial projections.

Fig. 1 shows a pencil of the construction hitherto generally known, the known mechanism of the pencil being omitted. If in this pencil pressure is exerted on the rear actuating knob b in the direction of the arrow X and the knob is pushed forward a distance equal to the first stage of movement up to the dot-dash line Y, the danger mentioned above exists that the knob will be moved slightly too far forward and then enters the area intended for the second stage of movement, during which the actuating knob b is pushed forward approximately until it reaches the dot-dash line Z.

Fig. 2 shows a form of construction according to the present invention, in which the casing al has at its rear end a bevelled or chamfered portion 0 which forms the clearance d which can be seen in the side elevation shown in Fig. 3. When, in this instance, the actuating knob b is pushed forward a distance equal to the first stage of movement it assumes the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which the finger exerting the pressure on the knob comes into contact with the rear end h of the pencil casing which arrests the movement of the finger. For the second stage of movement the actuating knob b is accessible in the clearance d and can be shifted into the position shown in broken lines.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 4 the clearance d is formed in the casing a not by a bevel, but by a steplike cut-away portion e.

As can be seen from the embodiment of Fig. 5, it is also possible to provide as clearance, a longitudinal slot 3 in the view of the pencil. illustrated casing a which slot renders it possible to impart to the knob b the movement for the second stage. In this case it is advantageous, as shown in Fig. 6, to provide on the actuating knob b a radial projection g, for example a nose, lug or the like, which extends into the slot and facilitates the gripping and shifting of the actuating knob during the second stage of movement.

It is evident that the invention may be put into effect by providing several clearances. For example, there may be two diametrically opposite bevelled portions 0. It is also possible to allow the slot f to extend right through the pencil casing a and be open on both sides thereof, as shown in Figure 7. In this case a second projection g is preferably provided on the knob b diametrically opposite the projection g. In some cases it may also be advantageous to provide a cross-shaped transverse slot 1.

In addition to the advantages already mentioned, the invention allows of a construction wherein the actuating knob need not project from the rear end of the casing as far as heretofore. This will not only facilitate the manipulation but also improve the whole appearance of the push pencil.

I claim:

1. A push pencil or the like comprising a casing, a lead carrier, a spring, and an actuating knob longitudinally shiftable in the rear end of said push pencil casing by application of finger pressure in the same direction in two stages, the first stage corresponding to actuation of said push pencil actuating knob in which said lead carrier is brought into position for writing and the second stage corresponding to actuation of said push pencil actuating knob in which said lead carrier is released to enable return to the inoperative position thereof by the force exerted thereon by said spring, wherein the outer end of said push pencil actuating knob extends beyond said rear end of said push pencil casing a distance equal to the shifting movement of the first stage and the rear end of said push pencil casing serves as a stop for the finger exerting pressure on said push pencil actuating knob and accurately determines the end of the first stage of movement thereof, and wherein said push pencil casing is provided at said rear end thereof with a clearance defined by a cut-away portion in the sidewall thereof to enable further actuation of said push pencil actuation knob in the same direction upon arrival at the end of the first stage of movement of said push pencil actuating knob to the second stage of movement thereof by continued external application of finger pressure so as to avoid said stop.

2. A push pencil or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clearance is formed by at least one beveled portion in said rear end of said push pencil casing.

3. A pushpencil or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clearance is formed by at least one step-like cut-away portion in said rear end of said push pencil casing.

4. A push pencil or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clearance is formed by at least one longitudinal slot in said push pencil casing and extends from said rear end thereof.

5. A push pencil or the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clearance is formed by at least one longitudinal slot in said push pencil casing and extending from said rear end thereof, and said push pencil actuating knob has a radial projection extending into said slot wherein said radial projection is accessible to the finger.

6. An actuating device having an elongated housing provided with an actuating member projecting from the rear end thereof, said actuating member being non-rotatably actuable in the same direction in said housing in two stages by finger pressure exerted thereon, said two stages corresponding to two distinct operating positions, wherein the outer end of said actuating member extends beyond said rear end of said housing a distance equal to the shifting movement of said actuating member in the first stage and said rear end of said housing serves as a stop for the finger-exerting pressure on said actuating member and accurately determines the limit of the first stage movement of said actuating member, and wherein said housing at said rear end thereof is provided with a clearance in the side wall thereof for giving access to said actuating member upon reaching the end of the first stage of movement thereof to enable shifting to the second stage of movement thereof by application of finger pressure in such a manner as to avoid said stop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,491,082 Biro Dec. 13, 1949 2,526,268 Perraud Oct. 17, 1950 2,657,671 Wade et a1. Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,000,831 France Oct. 17, 1951 

